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| Caucasus | ||
| The Teacher Chose Death (Beslan Hero) | ||
| 2004-09-08 | ||
In an act of unlimited devotion and dedication, to the bitter end, an elderly teacher insisted on remaining with his students. He protected them, bandaged their wounds, and with his death, saved their lives. Children who escaped from the school told of how they owed their lived to elderly Yanis (Ivan) Kanidis, age 74 — a man of Greek origin who worked as a gym teacher at the school. He was among the hundreds of teachers, students and parents taken hostage last week when Chechen rebels invaded the large school. On Thursday, in what was an unusual humanitarian move in the midst of the horror, the terrorists agreed to allow a group of women and babies to leave the building. The commander of the terrorist squad, saw Kanidis -- a sickly elderly man -- and offered to allow him to walk free as well. But Kanidis refused. "I will stay with my students till the end," the teacher insisted. "Whatever you say," said the terrorist, dismissing him with a wave of the hand. "He was just like Janus Korzchak, who accompanied his pupils to Auschwitz," said one of the students who was saved. Like Korzchak, Kanidis didn't just accompany his students, he guarded their lives. On Friday, when the children began to lose consciousness from the stuffy air and their thirst, Yanis went to the terrorists. "You have to give them something to drink, at least to the smallest children," he insisted angrily. One of the terrorists hit him with the butt of his rifle, but the teacher continued to yell: "How dare you!? You claim you are people of the Kafkaz region, but here in the Kafkaz even a dog wouldn't turn down the request of an old man!" His efforts bore fruit. The terrorist allowed the teacher to wet one of the bibs of the children and pass it around to dampen the mouths of the little ones who were choking from thirst. The hostages who escaped told how the teacher repeatedly risked his own life in order to save the children. He moved explosive devices that the terrorists had placed near the young students, and tried to prevent them from detonating others. When the first bomb exploded next to the windows of the school, parents and children began to run out. The terrorists, trying to prevent their escape, threw a grenade at them. The elderly teacher ran to the grenade to prevent it from exploding on the children. One of the terrorists shot at the teacher to try to stop him and Yanis was wounded in the shoulder — but didn't give up. With the last of his strength, he continued to run, jumped on the grenade, covering it with his body. The grenade exploded, and the body of the teacher absorbed the explosion, protecting the children around him from injury.
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| Posted by:Steve White |
| #25 May God Rest his soul. Fred, remember to include the people who attacked the Flight 93 hijackers. |
| Posted by: Korora 2004-09-08 7:24:37 PM |
#24 After this it was noised abroad that Mr. Valiant-for-truth was taken with a summons by the same post as the other, and had this for a token that the summons was true, "That his pitcher was broken at the fountain." Eccl. 12:6. When he understood it, he called for his friends, and told them of it. Then said he, "I am going to my Father's; and though with great difficulty I have got hither, yet now I do not repent me of all the trouble I have been at to arrive where I am. My sword I give to him that shall succeed me in my pilgrimage, and my courage and skill to him that can get it. My marks and scars I carry with me, to be a witness for me that I have fought His battles who will now be my rewarder." When the day that he must go hence was come, many accompanied him to the river-side, into which as he went, he said, "Death, where is thy sting?" And as he went down deeper, he said, "Grave, where is thy victory?" 1 Cor. 15:55. So he passed over, and all the trumpets sounded for him on the other side. John Bunyan |
| Posted by: Ptah 2004-09-08 6:51:09 PM |
| #23 Excellent poem, RN. *cries* John 15:13 Greather love hath no man than this; that he lay down his life for his friends. When reading that account, I saw Jesus working through Kanidis. |
| Posted by: Steve from Relto 2004-09-08 2:02:14 PM |
| #22 As Angels Look Down The sunlight broke thru on the schoolhouse that day With flowers in hand, parents leading the way No thought to what waited on that side of town A hush filled the Heavens…As Angels Look Down The horrors, the crying, the filth and the hate Some tried to escape, for most it’s too late Blood smears the gym floor, bombs all around They prepare for their coming…As Angels Look Down Amid threats and a butt stroke, Yanis stays strong Pressing his point, without giving ground Through the hole run the children, a terrorist turns round A grenade flies their way…As Angels Look Down The carnage is terrible, lifeless parents and kids On the floor torn apart lies Teacher Kanidis A hero to survivors, while on high he’s surround He and his children…As Angels Look Down |
| Posted by: RN 2004-09-08 1:49:05 PM |
| #21 I'll start on it this evening. |
| Posted by: Fred 2004-09-08 1:12:38 PM |
| #20 Good idea, I'll ghost it for half my usual fee. |
| Posted by: Arthur Schlessinger Jr 2004-09-08 12:45:56 PM |
| #19 Old Spook: Very, very well said. Thank you. |
| Posted by: jawa 2004-09-08 11:58:57 AM |
| #18 Greater love has no man than this, that he lay his life down for his friends. Rest in complete and entire peace, my friend. Fred, I love the idea of a RB Profiles in Courage. Start with Mr. Kanidis, include FDNY/NYPD and I have a feeling that more like them will be added to the Profile soon, although I pray not. |
| Posted by: BA 2004-09-08 11:26:54 AM |
| #17 I also like the idea of a Rantburg Profiles in Courage series. Please make it, Fred. |
| Posted by: Steve from Relto 2004-09-08 10:08:51 AM |
| #16 Steve, Fred, the Rantburg Profiles in Courage is too good an idea not to do it. Mr. Kanidis, rest in peace, brave friend. |
| Posted by: Mike 2004-09-08 9:08:33 AM |
| #15 The hostages who escaped told how the teacher repeatedly risked his own life in order to save the children. A true teacher. Too bad his teachings probably won't reach those who are most in need, as in the terrorist's children. He certainly reached out to touch the lives of his own pupils. I hope they build a monument to him. How ironic that one complete foreigner would shed so much light unlike other foreigners who brought only darkness. |
| Posted by: Zenster 2004-09-08 7:28:54 AM |
| #14 #11 If we were to start a Rantburg Profiles in Courage series, Mr. Kanidis would be among the first I would profile. Steve, That is actually a very good idea. I think a site dedicated to those who have made great sacrifices in the war against Islamofascism would be a tremendous asset. It might even help to convince some of the fence sitters. |
| Posted by: DanNY 2004-09-08 7:13:09 AM |
| #13 wow, he's a hero, in my mind should be a legend, very brave |
| Posted by: Shep UK 2004-09-08 3:08:13 AM |
| #12 OS - well said! |
| Posted by: B 2004-09-08 2:19:57 AM |
| #11 If we were to start a Rantburg Profiles in Courage series, Mr. Kanidis would be among the first I would profile. |
| Posted by: Steve White 2004-09-08 2:13:21 AM |
| #10 Rest well, friend. My donation will be in your name. |
| Posted by: Seafarious 2004-09-08 1:43:07 AM |
| #9 I can only hope that we never run out of truly courageous people like that. We will not lose so long as we have strength like that to draw upon. Islam "Martyr" = someone who kills a lot of people in the process of killing himself. True Martyr = someone who dies a death in faith, a death in an act of good, a selfless death for others, giving himself that others may live. That in itself illustrates the difference between Islamofascism and the West (especially Christianity - this fellow was likely Eastern Orthodox) I hope he is getting a firm Welcome Home in heaven - for such selfless defense of the innocent surely earned his way, demonstrated his faith far above the evil that confronted him. Yanis, may a squadron of Angels hurry you to Heaven. |
| Posted by: OldSpook 2004-09-08 1:31:13 AM |
| #8 These are terrorists not rebels. |
| Posted by: Anonymous6339 2004-09-08 1:17:47 AM |
| #7 Blessed is he, who gives his life to save his friends |
| Posted by: GreatestJeneration 2004-09-08 1:03:38 AM |
| #6 May he rest in peace and be remembered till the end of times. Thus spake Zarathustra |
| Posted by: Zarathustra 2004-09-08 12:36:44 AM |
| #5 Evil will always bring out the best in mankind, too. Rest in peace, Yanis. |
| Posted by: True German Ally 2004-09-08 12:20:01 AM |
| #4 Unlike the scum that killed him, this man truly earned a place in Paradise. He was the sort of man we all wish we were. |
| Posted by: RWV 2004-09-08 12:18:24 AM |
| #3 Damn, This is true heroism. God speed Yanis Kanidis. And this is why the cowardly, vile Islamists will lose, they don't have an inkling of the fiber found in the hearts and souls of free peoples... |
| Posted by: Francis 2004-09-08 12:17:33 AM |
| #2 Yanis (Ivan) Kanidis honored life and his murderers embraced death. That is the difference between us and them. |
| Posted by: Douglas De Bono 2004-09-08 12:09:49 AM |
| #1 How far this little candle doth throw its beams... so shines a good deed in a wicked world |
| Posted by: lex 2004-09-08 12:08:55 AM |